City farm fairs meet safe food demand

Update:
October, 05/2016 - 11:46

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A safe farm produce fair will be held every Saturday in HCM City’s District 10, aiming to help local people access safe products amidst the current complicated food safety situation. — Photo saostar.vn

HCM CITY — A safe farm produce fair will be held every Saturday in HCM City’s District 10, aiming to help local people access safe products amidst the current complicated food safety situation, according to the municipal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Deputy head of the department Nguyễn Văn Trực said all products introduced at the fair are produced to the VietGAP and GlobalGAP standards, or within the safe food production chain of the city, with strict inspection of authorities at the farm and the fair.

The first fair of its kind opened in the city late last week, providing a diversity of food and foodstuffs from rice, vegetables and pork, to seafood and fruit, with reasonable prices, he said.

Earlier, the department implemented three pilot events, which were lauded by locals. More than 20 orders was made between businesses and farmers, including 15 big ones with a total supply worth VNĐ2.4 billion (over US$100,000) each month, he added.

The department plans to expand the model to other localities across the city, initially to District 2 and Tân Bình District, thus meeting the high demand for safe food from locals. — VNS